The crystal shop owner is one of many ancillary characters (such as the baker and Santiago's father) that Santiago meets in the book. What purpose does the crystal shop owner serve in connection to Santiago.

By working at the crystal shop, Santiago learns many lessons. One of the most important is that it does not take an exterior force to prevent one from realizing one's dreams. The shopkeeper is actively trying to avoid achieving his dream, because he believes that if he achieves it he will have nothing to aspire to. It is with this in mind that Santiago decides to continue on his own quest.